Drought cuts Tyrol animal feed harvests by up to 70 percent

Drought has sharply reduced animal feed harvests in Tyrol, with losses reaching 70 percent in East Tyrol, the agricultural chamber said, according to ORF. North Tyrol recorded losses of up to 50 percent.

Meadows and silage maize, both important sources of animal feed, were hit. Grassland accounts for almost all of Tyrol’s agricultural land. In the Lienz district, the first cut was poor and the second was a complete failure, said Josef Hechenberger, president of the Tyrolean agricultural chamber. Many farms now have to buy feed to supply their animals.

More animals were slaughtered in August as a result, although not as many as in eastern Austria, Hechenberger said. Hay and grass silage bales cost 40 to 50 percent more than last year, while maize silage bales rose by 16 to 20 percent.

Fruit and vegetable growers, whose crops account for one to two percent of Tyrol’s agricultural land, managed a difficult season and produced high-quality goods, the chamber said. Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and courgettes recorded above-average yields. Fire blight was a particular challenge. Tyrol remains the country’s leading producer of radishes, supplying one in every two sold in Austria.

The chamber described federal drought aid as an important signal. It includes temporary relief on farmers’ social security contributions, a 10 percent increase in hail insurance for 2027 and a federal subsidy for loan interest. The Tyrolean state also provides support, including a project that pays 220 euros per hectare to reseed drought-damaged meadows.

Chamber officials said Tyrol must adapt to climate change and become more resilient, particularly by investing in water supplies on alpine pastures. They also said irrigation for grassland should be considered, with South Tyrol cited as a possible example. Production costs rose over the summer and are expected to continue increasing.